Administrator

This section covers some plant and grow common problems

o I think my plant my have a nutrient disorder, how do I know what it is and what to do?
- Nutrient Disorder Solver - Simple guide to what is wrong with your plants
- Nutrient Disorder Solver - Illustrated guide to what is wrong with your plants

o My plants look pretty tatty, what could be wrong with them?
- [Link Unavailable] - They might be a weed but they can only take so much!

o My plant has gone hermi, what can I do?
- Hermi Advice - What to do if your femme grows balls

o Spider mites are ravaging my plants,help?
- Spidermites - Detailed post regarding these little critters
- Spidermites - Some general discussion

o Ew, I have this gray stuff growing on my plants?
- Gray Mold - The cold and damp encourages mould

o Ew, why is my soil going green?
- Algae - Can be a problem when the soil is too moist

o I've been using Miracle grow but everyone says I shouldn't, what's up with that?
- Miracle Grow - So you like it?

How can I identify nutrient problems with my plants?
Contributed By Dandaweedman

There are many chemical elements that are essential to plant growth, these chemical elements can be either mobile or immobile nutrients.

A plant will always supply more nutrients to its younger leaves than its older ones, so when nutrients are mobile, the lack of nutrients is first visible on older leaves. When a nutrient is less mobile, the younger leaves suffer because the nutrient does not move up to them but stays lower in the older leaves. - Wikipedia

MOBILE ELEMENTS

Mobile elements are more likely to exhibit visual deficiencies in the older leaves, because during demand these elements will be exported to the new growth.

Nitrogen (N)

Nitrogen is especially important in the vegetative cycle. Make no mistake it is important in flower as well, but not so much.

Soluble nitrogen (especially nitrate) is the form that's the most quickly available to the roots, while insoluble N (like urea) first needs to be broken down by microbes in the soil before the roots can absorb it.

Deficiency

Plants suffering from this deficiency are distinct in their pattern of yellowing. Yellowing starts on the older leaves and progresses upward, leaving the top parts of the plant green.

The yellowing is not patchy, the leaves will yellow uniformly. Eventually all leaves will turn yellow

Feeding with a high N fertilizer like fish emulsion will clear it up.

Excess Nitrogen

Nitrogen toxicity is shown as leaves that are often dark green and in the early stages abundant with foliage.

As you can see nitrogen excess is kind of hard to tell without some experience.

If excess is severe, leaves will dry and begin to fall off. The root system will be under-developed and/or deteriorate after time.

Fruit and flower set will be inhibited or deformed.

Too much Nitrogen late in flower will delay bud maturity. Plants should be allowed to become N deficient at this time

Phosphorous (P)

This element, like nitrogen, is closely connected with the vital growth processes in plants. Phosphorus is also of importance in the metabolism of fats. Compounds of phosphorus are concerned with the processes of respiration and with the efficient functioning and utilization of nitrogen.

This relationship to nitrogen probably accounts for the fact that several of the symptoms of phosphorus deficiency are identical or similar to those which result from a deficiency of nitrogen. Phosphorus is especially important in root development and the ripening of the buds.

Deficiency

This starts with the older leaves and then moves to the newer. Fan leaves will be dark green or red/purple, and may turn yellow. The tips of the leaves may start to curl under then go brown and die. You may also notice a red vein or veins running up and down the meristems nearer the top.

A deficiency of this element will also be expected to result in greatly restricted growth.

Excess Phosphorous can lock out other minerals.

Potassium (K)

Potassium helps in the process of nutrient uptake, photosynthesis and respiration. It is a an important mineral to help create sturdy stems and disease resistance. Having an adequate supply for the plant early in its life stage will help when flower time comes and the buds grow heavy.

Deficiency

This is another deficiency that shows on older growth first.

Potassium deficiencies are identified by dying edges of larger fan leaves at first, then continuing to the rest of the plant over time.

Dead patches can be seen on the leaves as well which will eventually turn yellow, brown and die off.

Excess Potassium

Potassium can get locked up if you have an excess of Calcium, ammonium Nitrogen or if the temperatures get too cool.

Please note... Your soil's Potassium will have to be built up and have a surplus before it will become available to the roots again.

Nutrient Problem Solver Chart

SYMPTOMS	N	P	K	Ca	S	Mg	Fe	Mn	B	Mb	Zn	Cu	Over Fert.
Yellow Upper Leaves	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Yellow Middle Leaves	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Yellow Lower Leaves	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Red Stems	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Necrosis	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Spots	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Growing Shoots Die	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
White Leaf Tips	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Stunted Growth	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Deformed New Growth	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Yellow Tips	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Twisted Growth	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No

To use the table just match up the plants symptoms with those on the table. Nutrients that are shaded Red are the problem. Find that nutrient in the text below the table for the remedy.

NITROGEN (N) Pale plants, red stems, smaller growth. Rapid yellowing of lower leaves progressing up the plant. Add any chemical fertilizer containing N. Treated plants recover in about a week.

PHOSPHORUS (P) Slow or stunted growth, red stems. Smaller leaves that are dark green. Lower leaves yellow and die. Add chemical fertilizer containing P. Affected leaves will not show recovery but new growth will apear normal.

POTASSIUM (K) Affected plants are usually tallest and appear to be most vigorous. Necrotic spots form on lower leaves. Red stems. Leaves appear pale or yellow. Add chemical fertilizer containing K.

CALCIUM (Ca) Lack of calcium in the soil results in the soil becoming too acid. This leads to Mg or Fe deficiency or very slow stunted growth. Treat by foliar feeding with one teaspoon of dolomatic lime per quart of water until condition improves.

SULFER (S) Plants suffering from S deficiencies exhibit yellowing of new growth. Mix one tablespoon of Epsom salts per gallon of water until condition improves.

MAGNESIUM (Mg) Lower leaves yellow and may even turn white while veins remain dark green. Blades die and curl upward.

IRON (Fe) Leaves on growing shoots turn pale and veins remain dark green. pH imbalances make iron insoluble. Foliar feed with chemical fertilizer containing Fe or rusty water.

MANGANESE (Mn) Necrotic and yellow spots form on top leaves. Mn deficiency occurs when large amounts of Mg are present in the soil. Foliar feed with any chemical fertilizer containing Mn.

BORON (B) Growing shoots turn grey or die. Growing shoots appear burnt. Treat with one teaspoon of Boric acid (sold as eyewash) per gallon of water.

MOLYBDENUM (Mb) Yellowing of middle leaves. Foliar feed with chemical fertilizer containing Mb.

ZINC (Zn) White areas form at leaf tips and between veins. Occurs in alkaline soils. Zn deficiency can be treated by burying galvanized nails in the soil. Chemical fertilizer containing Zn can also be used.

OVER FERTILIZATION Causes leaf tips to appear yellow or burnt. To correct soil should be flushed with three gallons of water per one gallon of soil.

toastedkat

MERCY BOO COOP!!!